Typewriter eraser



Sept. 2 0, 1938. A. MERCEREAU TYPEWRITER ERASER Filed Dec. 16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Attorneys Sept. 20, 1938. E. A. MERCEREAU I Q TYPEWRITER ERASER Filed Dec. 16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 n "Inn-II.-

IIIIIIIIIIII Attorneys P 1938. E. A. MERCEREAU 2,130,963

TYPEWRITER ERASER Filed Dec. 16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m I Inventor v wm .4fforneys Sept. 20, 1938. E. A. MERCEREAU TYPEWRITER ERASER Filed Dec. 16,

193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor .zfij iwereaa M .4 fiorneys Patented Sept. 20, 1938 PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRI'I'ER ERASER Elie A. Merccreau, Port Hammond, British Columbia, Canada Application December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,251

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in typewriter erasers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to be permanently mounted on a typewriting machine where it is ready for use at all times.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a typewriter eraser of the character described embodying a novel construction and arrangement whereby the entire mechanism may be actuated through the medium of a single hand lever.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a typewriter eraser of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.

' Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through an upper portion of the invention. Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section through the lower portion of the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical section. taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1. Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2. 0 Figure 8 is a detail view in side elevation, showing the platen operating means.

' Figure 9 is a detail view in vertical section, showing one of the ball and socket connections.

Figure 10 is a detail view, showing the mounting of the yoke or fork constituting a part of the platen operating means.

Figure 11 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. 10. 7 Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially U-shaped metallic bracket I which is rigidly secured in any suitable manner, as at 2, on one side of a typewriting machine 3. Journalled in the bracket I is a crank shaft 4. The reference numeral 5 designates an inverted substantially U-shaped metallic frame which is Journalled on the crank shaft 4 in the bracket I. Pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the bracket I is a pair of links 6 in the free end portions of which 5 a shaft 1 is rotatably mounted. The frame 5 is journalied on the shaft 1. It will thus be seen that the frame 5 is movable in the bracket I as the crank shaft 4 is actuated.

The reference numeral 8 designates an angular 10 tubular housing which is rotatably secured on the upper portion of the inner side of the frame 5, as at 9. J ournalled transversely in the upper portion of the frame 5 is a shaft ID having one end portion extending rotatably into the adjacent end 15 portion of the housing 8 (see Fig. 4). Fixed on the shaft I0 is a gear II. Extending through the tubular housing 8 is a flexible drive shaft I22 which is driven by the shaft Ill. The flexible drive shaft I2 projects beyond the free end of the 20 tubular housing 8 and has removably mounted thereon an eraser disc I3. An arm 84 (see Figs.

2 and 7) is provided on the inner end portion of the tubular housing 8, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. 25

Fixed on the crank shaft 4 is a gear IS. The gear I5 drives a gear I6 which is journalled on the shaft I. Fixed on one side of the gear I6 is a ratchet wheel I'I. Journalled on the shaft I, immediately adjacent the ratchet wheel ii, is 30 a comparatively large gear I8 having mounted thereon a spring pressed pawl I9 (seeFig. 3) which is engageable with said ratchet wheel H for. actuating said gear I8 in one direction only. The gear I8 drives the gear II and consequently the eraser disc 13.

Also fixed on the crank shaft 4 is an arm 20. The reference numeral 2I designates a hand lever which is pivotally connected, as at 22, to the free end portion of the arm 20. A knob, handle or the like 23 is provided on the lever 2|. A return spring 24 is provided for the arm 20.

Projecting at an angle from the pivoted end 22 of the hand lever 2| is a yoke 25 which operates 5 a collar 26 which is slidably mounted on the crank shaft 4. The reference numeral 21 (see Figs. 3 and 5) designates a lever which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point, as at 28, in the lower portion of the frame-5 for swinging on movement in a horizontal plane. At one end, the lever 21 terminates in a fork or yoke 29 which is connected by pin and slot connections to a collar 30 which is slidable on the crank shaft 4. A spring 3| (see Fig. 5) is connected to the lever 21 in a manner to yieldingly resist actuation of said lever 21 in one direction.

A bar 32 has one end operatively connected to the other end of the lever 21 and said bar 32 has its other end connected to one end portion of a rocker arm 33 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 5. Another rocker arm 34 on the frame 5 is operatively connected to the rocker arm 33 by a rod 35. A rod 36 operatively connects the rocker arm 34 to the arm I4 on the tubular housing 8. Thus, the rotatably mounted tubular housing 8 is operatively connected to the hand lever 2| for actuation thereby when said hand lever is swung on its pivot 22.

Fixed on one end of the platen 31 of the typewriting machine 3 with its teeth projecting beyond the periphery of said platen is a gear 38. Fixed on the upper portion of the machine 3 adjacent the platen 31 is a bracket v39. The reference numeral 40 designates an elongated gear segment which is mountedfor swinging movement on the bracket 39 and which is engageable with the gear 38 for actuating the platen 31. Mounted on the lower portion of the machine 3 is a bracket 4| on which a disc 42 is rotatably mounted. A rod 43 operatively connects the elongated gear segment 40 to the disc 42 for actuation thereby. Fixed in the disc 42 is an angular finger 44 which is straddled by a fork 45' on the bar 32. Referring now to Figs.

' 10 and 11 of the drawings, it will be seen that the fork 45 is yieldingly held in one end portion of a slot 46 in the bar 32 by a coil spring 41.

Briefly, the operation of the device is substantially as follows:

When the hand lever 2| is swung toward the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings on the pivot 22, the bar 32 is actuated from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 5 of the drawings, throughthe medium of the elements '25, 26, 21, 30, etc., against the tension of the spring 3|. This movement of the bar 32 engages the elongated gear segment 40 with the gear 33 in a manner to rotate the platen 31 to expose the work for contact by the eraser disc l3 through the medium 'of the elements 43, 42, 44, 45, etc. This movement of the bar 32 also actuates the rotatably mounted angular housing 8 in a manner to swing the eraser l3 into contact with the work through the medium of the elements 33, 34, 35, 36, etc. When the hand lever 2| is swung downwardly,'or toward the operator, the crank shaft 4 is actuated and the flexible drive shaft I2 is actuated for rotating the eraser disc l3 through the elements Ill, l5, l6, l1, I8, I 9, etc. Pawl I9, engaged with the ratchet wheel l1, permits the eraser disc l3 to be driven in one direction only. This movement of the crank shaft 4 also moves the frame 5 upwardly and downwardly in a slight arc in the supporting bracket together with all of the elements mounted on said frame, for moving the eraser for contact with the high and low portions of certain letters, numerals, etc. When the hand lever 2| is released the various springs return the mechanism to inoperative position, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus, when the elongated gear segment 40 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings to that illustrated in Fig. 8, the platen 31 with the work thereon is returned to its former position and typing may be resumed.

It is believed that the many advantages of a typewriter eraser constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the .invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. An eraser for typewriters of the type in-' cluding a rotary platen, comprising a supporting structure attached to the typewriter, a rotary' eraser mounted for swinging movement on said supporting structure and engageable with the work, and common means for rotating the platen, for swinging the eraser toward said platen, and for rotating said eraser.

2. An eraser for typewriters of the type including a rotary platen, comprising a supporting structure attached to the typewriter, an eraser rotatably mounted on said supporting structure and engageable with the work on the platen, and common means for rotating the eraser and for rotating the platen to position the work thereon for contact by said eraser.

3. An eraser for typewriters of the type ineluding a rotary platen, comprising a frame movably mounted on the typewriter, a rotary eraser mounted for swinging movement on said frame and movable therewith relative to the typewriter, and common means for moving the frame, for swinging the eraser toward the platen, for rotating said eraser and for rotating the platen for positioning the work thereon for contact by said eraser.

4. An eraser for typewriters of the type ineluding a rotary platen, comprising a bracket mounted on the typewriter, a frame shiftably mounted on said bracket; a substantially angular supporting member rotatably mounted on the frame and shiftable therewith, an eraser rotatably mounted on the supporting member, and common means for actuating the platen for positioning the work thereon for contact by the eraser, for rotating the substantially angular supporting member for swinging said eraser into engagement with the work, for rotating the eraser and for shifting the frame for moving the eraser over the work.

ELIE A. MERCEREAU. 

